The impact of immunohistochemical markers of Ki-67 and p53 on the long-term outcome of growth hormone-secreting pituitary adenomas: A cohort study.

Background And Objectives: The tumoral biomarkers have a rather well known effect upon the tumor control period of several types of malignant lesions. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of immunohistochemical (IHC) markers of Ki-67 and p53 on the long-term outcome of growth hormone (GH)-secreting pituitary adenomas treated surgically.

Materials And Methods: We conducted and followed a cohort of 47 consecutive patients with GH-secreting pituitary adenomas referred to our department during a 4 year period for trans-sphenoidal microsurgical adenomectomy.

Trigeminocardiac reflex in neurosurgical practice: An observational prospective study.

Background: Considering wide variations regarding the incidence of trigeminocardiac reflex (TCR) during cranial neurosurgical procedures, and paucity of reliable data, we intended to design a prospective study to determine the incidence of TCR in patients undergoing standard general anesthesia for surgery of supra/infra-tentorial cranial and skull base lesions.

Methods: A total of 190 consecutive patients candidate for elective surgery of supra-tentorial, infra-tentorial, and skull base lesions were enrolled. All the patients were operated in the neurosurgical operating room of a university-affiliated teaching hospital.

Solitary spinal epidural cavernous angioma: report of nine surgically treated cases and review of the literature.

Purpose: We intend to report the largest series of spinal epidural cavernomas (SEC), discuss their clinical features, imaging characteristics, surgical findings, outcome analysis and compare them with similar reports in the literature.

Methods: Among the cases of spinal tumors treated surgically by the authors, there have been nine cases of SEC's. All the data were collected prospectively and the cases have been followed after surgery up to the time of this analysis.

Lessons learned from war: a comprehensive review of the published experiences of the Iranian neurosurgeons during the Iraq-Iran conflict and review of the related literature.

Background: This study sought to review the articles published by Iranian neurosurgeons regarding their experiences during the Iraq-Iran conflict and compare them with reports from other conflicts.

Methods: We searched databases (MEDLINE and 2 Iranian databases, namely IranMedex and Scientific Information Database, up to December 2011) and references for relevant studies. The search terms included Iran, Iraq, conflict, battle, war, traumatic aneurysm (TA), posttraumatic epilepsy (PTE), brain infection, penetrating head wound (PHW), cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leakage, spine injury, and peripheral nerve injury.

Intramedullary neurenteric cyst of the conus medullaris without associated spinal malformation: a case report and review of the literature.

Spinal neurenteric (NE) cysts are rare congenital anomalies that may occur either alone or in the context of a complex malformative disorder. They are usually intradural-extramedullary lesions. Intramedullary NE cysts not associated with other congenital anomalies are very rare and only a few cases have been reported in the conus medullaris region.

Concomitant intraventricular colloid cyst and low-grade astrocytoma of the brainstem in a 16-year-old boy.

Multiple primary brain tumors are commonly observed in patients with a history of brain radiation therapy or neurofibromatosis. The concomitant presence of 2 different types of brain tumors in a single location or chamber is a very rare clinical presentation in the absence of such a predisposing factor. The authors report on the case of a 16-year-old boy presenting with different types of brain tumors in 2 ventricular chambers concomitantly.

Osteoblastoma of the third cervical vertebra in a 16-year-old boy: case report and review of the literature.

Unlabelled: BACKGROUND/SUBJECT: A rare case of osteoblastoma of the third cervical vertebra (C3) occurring in a 16-year-old adolescent is presented. He was admitted suffering from neck pain for more than 3 years.

Method: Plain X-rays, technetium bone scanning, CT scan and MRI indicated an expansile, partially sclerotic lesion of the C3 involving the superior facet and pedicle on the right side.

Osteoid osteoma of the first 2 cervical vertebrae. Report of 4 cases.

Osteoid osteoma affects the spine in only 10% of cases. More than 50% of the spinal cases involve the lumbar and cervical vertebrae. Involvement of C-1 and C-2 vertebrae has previously been reported only very rarely in the published literature.

Schwannoma of the greater superficial petrosal nerve.

The authors report the clinical features, imaging and surgical findings, and follow-up of 5 rare cases of schwannoma of the middle fossa with possible origin from the greater superficial petrosal nerve (GSPN). All patients presented to a single neurosurgical institution. The study design was a prospective follow-up of 5 cases of schwannomas of the middle fossa that most likely originated from the GSPN.

Attempting homicide by inserting sewing needle into the brain Report of 6 cases and review of literature.

Background And Objectives: Child abuse with sewing needle is a rare but well-known homicide attempt threatening the life of victims. Information about diagnosis and treatment of such cases either in the acute or chronic phases is lacking and ambiguous in the literature. This study intends to report the experience of 6 victims of homicide attempt who presented to the authors in different decades of life and were managed in different ways.

Gradual and complete delivery of a hydatid cyst of the brain through a single burr hole, a wrong happening!

Introduction: Cerebral hydatidosis is a rare larval infection of the central nervous system affecting mostly the children and young adults.

Case Report: The authors report a case of a 5-year-old girl harboring a large right frontoparietal hydatid cyst. The imaging studies were not diagnostic for 'cerebral hydatidosis' and were interpreted as 'brain abscess'.

Traumatic rotary posterior dislocation of the atlas on the axis without fracture. Report of a case and review of literature.

Background: Traumatic rotary posterior dislocation of C1 on C2 without fracture (TRPDAAWF) is a very rare complication in severe accidents, and its pathophysiology is still under debate.

Case Description: Although 6 similar cases have been reported previously, we report the lessons learned during handling of the patient. A young man who is a victim of severe car crash injury, with neglected displacement of the intact odontoid process to the front of the anterior arch of C1, is reported.

Hiccup and neurosurgeons: a report of 4 rare dorsal medullary compressive pathologies and review of the literature.

Objective: The aim of this study was to present 4 rare cases of medullary compressive lesions presenting with IH, to discuss the indications for neurosurgical decompression in such cases, and to review the possible etiologies of IH briefly.

Methods: The reported cases include (1) a 19-year-old adolescent boy and a 21-year-old man with Chiari I malformation and cervical syrinx compressing or tightening the cervico-medullary junction; (2) a 35-year-old man with ependymoma extending from the lower half of the fourth ventricle to C1/C2 junction and compressing this part of the medulla; and (3) a 16-year-old adolescent boy who was referred to the emergency department in severe distress because of IH, occurring as a result of a distal PICA aneurysm located on the floor of the lower triangle of the fourth ventricle.

Results: Surgical decompression in all the cases was successful in withholding the hiccups.

A prospective analysis of 151 cases of patients with acromegaly operated by one neurosurgeon: a follow-up of more than 23 years.

Background: Transsphenoidal adenomectomy has been the accepted surgical management for treatment of growth hormone (GH)-secreting pituitary adenomas. Although the goal of treatment might be to keep the GH level in the reference range, the actual definition of success in control of acromegaly is not yet clear.

Methods: The aim of this study was to analyze prospectively the result of transsphenoidal adenoctomy performed over 23-year period by a single neurosurgeon in one center.

Skin-covered midline spinal anomalies: a report of four rare cases with a discussion on their genesis and milestones in surgical management.

Background: The differential diagnosis for a dorsal midline mass presenting in a newborn encompasses a wide range of pathological conditions, including spinal dysraphisms, tumoral overgrowths including teratoma and hamartoma, disturbances in regression of fetal tail, and pseudotail formation.

Objectives: To present (a) three rare cases of human tails and one case of tethered cord due to a midline anomaly resembling part of a human limb, (b) to discuss different kinds of clinical and pathological conditions which may be encountered in such newborns, (c) to hypothesize a theory about genesis of these congenital lesions, and (d) to remind drawbacks in preoperative evaluations and surgical management of these newborns.

Materials And Methods: Four newborns with dorsal midline malformations initially diagnosed as heterotopias are presented.

Minimal debridement or simple wound closure as the only surgical treatment in war victims with low-velocity penetrating head injuries. Indications and management protocol based upon more than 8 years follow-up of 99 cases from Iran-Iraq conflict.

Background: During military conflicts, surviving victims traditionally underwent large enough craniectomy or craniotomy to achieve extensive debridement of the in-driven bone, shell fragments, and debris. Meanwhile, the completely as well as the partially devitalized adjacent brain tissue would also be debrided. This might have led to additional neurologic deficit or lesser degree of recovery of functions.

Growing traumatic leptomeningeal cyst of the roof of the orbit presenting with unilateral exophthalmos.

Background: Growing skull fractures rarely develop in the skull base region. To the best of our knowledge, only two similar cases have been reported in the English literature. This rare complication, which can occur even after a mild head injury, can produce exophthalmos and threaten the vision.